Thoughtful Thursday

 

"Summer evenings" recalls warmer days of carefree picnics, tango classes, live music, late sunsets... and the Eiffel Tower.

 

Above: L'Homme / "The Man" (sculptor Pierre Traverse) seems to be gazing, deep in thought, at the Eiffel Tower 

 

***

 

 With over 50 million tourists clamoring for Eiffel Tower photos each year, the vast majority flock to two or three vantage points resulting in countless near-identical images, and this is one of them. Writer Guy de Maupassant used to publicly declare that he despised the Tower, yet would lunch there daily so he "didn't have to look at it"... (a clever excuse to provide him with both panoramic views and the perfect alibi?). Personally, like the statue, I prefer to enjoy the Tower from somewhere outside because once inside, you simply cannot see it, and will (literally) be missing the point. - BPJ

 

Repost 

 

 

White Wednesday

 

Paris wakes up to an Impressionist dreamscape.

Treeful Tuesday

 

 

Treefuls of fresh snow and a café's warm glow make a perfect winter postcard.

Mocha Monday

 A café crème, a pot of tea, a drizzly morning, a quiet port. 

 

Paris - La Rochelle +

3 hours (or less) from Paris

  

Sitting Saturday

 Sitting as an art form, across the street from the Louvre.

Fashion Friday

The much awaited Soldes d'hiver

January 7 - February 3, 2026

 

Que vos sacs de shopping soient bien remplis et votre portefeuille heureux!

(May your shopping bags be full and your wallet happy!) 

 

Above: 

 

 Sophie Hong Paris

Comédie Française

3 Galerie de Montpensier 75001

 

***

 

Paris' Soldes d'hiver (winter sales) are one of the most anticipated shopping events of the year, transforming the city into a bargain hunter's paradise. Starting Wednesday January 7, 2026, and running through Tuesday February 3, these government-regulated sales offer four weeks of steep discounts - often up to 70% off - on fashion, accessories, beauty products, and more across iconic spots like the grand department stores of Boulevard Haussmann (Galeries Lafayette and Printemps), the luxury boutiques of Avenue Montaigne and Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, the trendy Marais district, and the elegant streets of Saint-Germain-des-Prés. Early shoppers get the best pickings during initial markdowns, while later weeks bring even deeper reductions, making it the perfect time to refresh your wardrobe with French designer pieces or snag high-end items at a fraction of the cost. - BPJ 

 

Into a New Year

 

 As the sun sets on the Old Year, the Tower points to heights yet to be reached, the ancient obelisk to forgotten histories, best forgotten.

 

 - Bonne Année / Happy New Year - 

 

May 2026 bring you endless golden sunsets, new beginnings, and poetic days ahead. 

 

🎉  

 

Where to Brunch New Year's Day 2026 Paris